Giant cookout: UNH hosts annual feed for students, community

DURHAM — Thousands of people belonging to both the University of New Hampshire and local community packed Main Street Thursday afternoon for a giant cookout.

Organizations, clubs, fraternities and sororities filled the lawn of Thompson Hall, sprawling with activities, music, demonstrations and food on every inch of ground between Edgewood Road and Garrison Avenue welcoming underclassmen to campus and sharing in celebration with families, staff and alumni.

Wild E. Cat was spotted working the crowd and offering a friendly dose of school spirit while students roamed the aisles of tables set up to inform them of the opportunities available to them as a student of UNH.

Hosting a table where red firemen's hats were a popular commodity, the Durham Fire Department had set up a display to educate students about dorm and apartment fire safety tips. Tucked away on College Road, it was also an opportunity to make sure students are aware of where their first responders are located and how to reach them.

Next to the Fire Department setup, McGregor Memorial EMS let students know they'd be there in case of emergency.

"We are your ambulance service," their sign read.

Jordan Farring and Kate Bruning, both freshmen from Massachusetts, were checking out the "you are here" map to figure out where groups like Best Buddies were located, an organization that helps children with Down syndrome and disabilities that they were each involved with during high school.

They were also, like everyone at the annual "U Day" picnic, enjoying the free food, soft drinks and ice cream.

"I think it's a good way for everyone to see what UNH has to offer," Bruning said.

And it wasn't just a day for freshmen to get acquainted, though that was a huge purpose the event served.

Occupational therapy seniors Melissa Oliva and Karena Lozeau were checking out the same map as Ferring and Bruning, but were looking to find, SOPA, a group for occupational therapy students that they were already involved in — which has been a big part of their time at UNH

Lozeau said it's important to help the newer students figure out where they can join together and meet new people.

"It's useful for the underclassmen," she said.

"It's just a lot of fun,"Oliva said, pointing into the crowd to show her friend where their group might be amid the sea of people.

And of course in addition to all the fun, she said, there's the free food, something all freshmen and newcomers will learn to love.

Thinking ahead to the days that will follow after graduation, Net Impact, a relatively young group at the school, intends to help students find the right career after college.

"We're an organization on campus to help turn their passions into careers," Gina Guadagnoli said.

Demonstrations ranging from karate to juggling were ongoing throughout the event while music blared in the background and the community took in every offering.

Especially the free food, of which, there was no shortage and for which there was a constant patronage.

David Hill, dining area manager, begins ordering the 8,000 hamburgers; 4,000 hot dogs; ingredients for the 4,000 vegan and gluten free salads; 1,500 pounds of sliced watermelon; 200 one-pound bags of chips; 8,000 novelty ice cream items; and 10,000 bottles of water in late August so as to give the vendors enough time to prepare his order.

By 10 a.m. on the day of the event, crews are setting up tables, grills and tents to get ready for the picnic, an event Hill has seen continue to grow in size over the last 12 years.

By 2:30 p.m., cooks start working and preparing the food and continue straight through until 6:30 p.m. when the picnic ends. All evidence of a massive barbecue is cleared from the street by 7 p.m., he explained.

So why go through so much preparation and effort and labor for the three-hour festivity?